Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Many women are affected by pelvic inflammatory disease. This condition affects the reproductive organs and can cause problems with fertility if it is not treated promptly. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when bacteria travels through the cervix, into the uterine cavity and into the fallopian tubes.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are common sexually transmitted diseases that can lead to the infection that causes pelvic inflammatory disease. This can cause the reproductive organs to combat the infection by scarring over. This scarring effect is what can give women problems with fertility. Fallopian tubes can be blocked by scar tissue making it difficult or impossible for eggs to travel to the uterus. Many times eggs are fertilized in the fallopian tubes and the result can be an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies that occur outside of the uterus. An egg implanted in a fallopian tube can be a dangerous, even life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Scarring inside the fallopian tubes and uterus can happen very quickly, so you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease, particularly if you are of a reproductive age.
Symptoms to be aware of are fever, pain during intercourse or urination, foul smelling vaginal discharge, and irregular periods. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor right away. Sometimes symptoms are severe and obvious. Many times the symptoms are so mild that they are ignored. Even if you are experiencing mild symptoms, damage can easily occur if the pelvic inflammatory disease bacteria and inflammation are present. Delaying treatment can jeopardize your fertility or even your life.
If you suspect PID, you should immediately see your doctor. Your doctor will need to perform some tests to determine if you have PID. You will most likely be tested for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Your doctor may also need to perform an ultrasound to see if your reproductive organs are swollen. Inflammation and swelling can be a good indicator of an infection. Your body will continue to swell and scar in an attempt to stop the infection from spreading.
If you are diagnosed with PID, then you will need to immediately begin treatment to stop the infection. Antibiotics are administered to start battling the infection. Further treatments may be necessary if you have significant scarring. This is especially true if you plan on having a baby. Laparoscopic surgery is usually an option for women of reproductive age. You may wish to go to an experienced and skilled Reproductive Endocrinologist for this procedure to increase your chances of success.

About the Author: Dr. Eric Daiter, the medical director of The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, LLC, a leading NEW JERSEY INFERTILITY CENTER that offers a complete range of MALE INFERTILITY AND FEMALE INFERTILITY TREATMENT. For more information on The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and Eric Daiter please visit www.drericdaitermd.com.